Entangled Hearts

Chapter 16

At ten thirty the next morning, the telephone rang and Maria hurried to drawl her, "Hallo?"

"Hello, Mrs. Beckman?" Laura Mae's voice came clearly over the line.

"Yas, did is. Who is dis talkin'?"

"This is Laura Mae, how are you?"

"Oh, Oi bane fine. Youst, how are all of you?"

"We are all well, thank you. Is Gene anywhere so you could call him to the phone?"

"Yah, Oi tink he is, Oi will go see, Oi tink he is by de barn." Maria called Gene, then went on about her work in the kitchen. In a few minutes, Gene came hurrying into the house and picked up the phone with an anxious, "Hello?"

"Hello, Gene, everyone is out of the house, so I am taking this chance to talk to you."

"Did you get my note?"

"Yes, Mother and I have that before I go to Denver, I better stop off at Kingsford and buy me a new dress or two."

"Does your mother know? Did she read my note?"

"No, I didn't show it to her, but she knows that my wardrobe is hardly suitable for a visit in Denver. Auntie has some "exclusive" friends and she would expect me to be able to dress decent. Father has sent word to her will that I will be in Denver Thursday morning, he thinks that I will take a night train out of Kingsford and ride all night so I can be there Thursday morning but I can accidentally miss the train, you know."

"Sure, and we can take in a show or something that evening, can't we?"

"That would be fun, Father warned Aunty to check my mail there, and if any letters should come from you, she is to send it back to him or else destroy it without my seeing it."

"The devil, he did?"

"Say. From what your uncle said about my staying there, does he know our plan?"

"Your answer is "yes" then? No, Uncle doesn't know I just asked him jokingly last night what he might think if we were married before I went and he acted pleased with the idea."

"Oh, Gene, please don't tell him. Don't tell anyone."

"Yes, dear, if you really don't want me to tell. The event will take place in town tomorrow, then."

"It will be wonderful, Gene, I can hardly wait until tomorrow to be with you a whole day without Father to storm about it."

"I will meet you at the station in Kingsford, then. Is a diamond your choice stone?"

"Well- yes, but wait to give me that when you come back, it will be too risky to try and conceal it here, and Father would go wild with rage if he found it."

"Very well, then just a band."

"Someone is coming in, goodbye until tomorrow."

"Goodbye, my sweet."

Gene hung up the receiver; he was so happy he could have gone into the kitchen and danced Maria round and round but his better judgment told him that would hardly be the proper thing to do.